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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Announcing Marshall Frank's new release So You Want To Write A Book. (129 pages)

A simple guidebook for beginning authors interested in writing their memoirs, a first novel, or non-fiction book, without complicated lessons on English composition and literature.

For the average writer, this book spells out in easy terms, the process needed to construct a novel, or any other book form, for those who have hesitated or lacked confidence in getting started. It emphasizes common mistakes and all the dos and don'ts and lots of simple advice. Easy-to-read chapters for the basics in getting a book started, written and completed, then the process for landing agents and getting published.

For those who don't already know, I am a retired police captain/homicide detective from Miami-Dade P.D., now an author of twelve books, including six crime novels. To order a signed copy of So You want To Write A Book visit http://www.marshallfrank.com/WriteBook.html (Book is $12 plus $3 shipping) Available in Kindle in another week or two.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Florida's Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Convention is going on now (from October 26-28, 2012). It is at the Hilton Bayfront in St Petersburg, Florida. The Guest of Honor this year is Linnea Sinclair who writes science fiction and romance. For more information about the event, go to http://www.stonehill.org/necro.htm

FWA is a statewide nonprofit trade association
with over 1,100 members. The awards were announced at the awards ceremony at
FWA’s recent three-day annual conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference
attracted more than 300 member-attendees and offered a mix of workshops and
opportunities to network with a faculty of agents, acquisition editors,
publishers, and industry professionals from across the United States.

The winner of Published Book of the Year is:

“Ordinary People: Extraordinary Heroes” by Will G. Merrill Jr. in the
History genre.

Unpublished book of the year is:

“The Cold Season” by William C. Walker in the Romance genre.

***

This competition was RPLA’s eleventh, and to date it is the largest. Some
319 entries were submitted for the categories of writing, including book-length
nonfiction, short nonfiction, poetry, book-length fiction and short fiction.
Awards were given separately for published and unpublished works.

“RPLA is special.” said Chrissy Jackson, FWA’s president. “Like all
writing competitions, it recognizes excellence, but this competition also provides
comprehensive, constructive feedback to all entrants. I don’t know of any other
competition that guarantees that at least two judges will read and thoroughly
comment on all entries.”

This year, RPLA had 55 active judges. The judges are current or
retired teachers, librarians, professional editors, college professors,
published authors, former RPLA winners, journalists, and leaders of writing and
reading groups. A good percentage have advanced degrees. Most are Floridians,
but others hail from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
New Hampshire, and New York. All entries were blind.

“The judging was first-rate,” said Jim Thompson, RPLA’s 2012 chairperson.
“Collectively, the judges donated thousands of hours of time to this
competition, and because they’re anonymous, they got absolutely no public
recognition for it. They truly live the FWA motto, ‘Writers Helping Writers’.”

The Florida Writers Association, over 1,100 members strong and
growing, is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization that supports the state’s
established and emerging writers. Membership is open to the public, and
membership forms are posted on FWA’s website, www.floridawriters.net.

The Royal Palm Literary Awards competition is a service of the Florida
Writers Association established to recognize excellence in members’ published
and unpublished works while providing blind, objective, and constructive
written assessments for all entrants.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Royal Palm Literary Awards. They are:

Published Book of the Year

Ordinary People:
Extraordinary Heroesby Will
G. Merrill Jr. (History)

During the First Battle in the War against Terror,
ordinary New Yorkers became extraordinary heroes.

Will G. Merrill Jr. graduated from West Point in 1958.He served 31 years in the Army, including in
Germany, Vietnam, Korea and Greece. In writing this book he interviewed sixty
firefighters, police officers and civilians directly involved with 9/11.

Unpublished Book of the Year

The Cold Seasonby William C. Walker (Romance)

A woman's journey
of discovery and redemption.

William C. Walker started his writing career
as a columnist for a regional newspaper. During a thirty-five year span as a
military pilot and commercial airline captain he began writing short stories
and novels. He lives on Florida's Treasure Coast with his wife and a fluff dog
that likes him.

The Dahris Clair Memorial
Award

Kidnappedby Maria Hammarblad (Screen Play)

Patricia is abducted by mistake. Lost
in space, she must use every ounce of her humanity to find the way home.

Originally born in Sweden, Maria
moved to Florida late 2008. Today, she lives in the Tampa Bay area with her
husband Mike and three rescue dogs. She is most known for writing science
fiction romance, but also produces romantic thrillers.

Book-Length Fiction

Historical Fiction (Published)

First Place

The French Teacher by William C. Walker. An American woman in war-torn France.

Historical Fiction
(Unpublished)

First Place

The Lantern by Joanne Lewis. A Renaissance mystery, takes the
reader along two continents and over five hundred years as a 21st century
American woman searches to learn the truth about the 15th century mysterious
Italian girl who dared to compete with the most famous artists of the
Renaissance..

Second Place

Nisei by John J.
White.A few months before his death in 1953, Hideo “Bobby”
Takahashi, dictates his memoir to his lovely companion.

THIRD PLACE

In the Hands of the Wolf by Raymond
Gustavson. Set in Clarksville, TN, and Washington, DC, this historical
novel covers the highly traumatic period February through May 1865.

Humor / Satire [Fiction] (Unpublished)

First Place

Never Bet Your Future on a Guy Called Weasel by Ann Meier. A young woman returns to her hometown to
settle an estate, but finds her attorney murdered and lying on a yearbook
picture of her best friend.

Mainstream (Unpublished)

First Place

The Bully Route Home by D. L. Havlin. The struggles of a young boy to avoid the bullying of a dominant antagonist,
sets off a chain of events culminating in explosive racial tension in the rural
South of the 40’s…and teaches him the value of every human being.

Second Place

Andrew Comes Home by Philip L. Levin. A family shattered is by the death of the teenage daughter.The father and son move from Chicago to the
Mississippi coast seeking healing while adjusting to the Southern culture
shock.

THIRD PLACE

‘Nam World by Jeff Boyle. The story of a theme park and the real and
imaginary world of a Vietnam veteran struggling against demons to follow his
heart.

Mystery (Published)

First Place

The Gift by Bruce H. Kubec.After his own computer system is hacked, a businessman uncovers an
embezzlement scheme targeting the nation’s largest banks. Is it acceptable to
do bad for a good reason?

Mystery (Unpublished)

First Place

The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton.She made headlines when she was kidnapped at 12 and again when she was
rescued at 16, but now Reeve LeClaire guards her privacy and lives alone, a
damaged young woman of 22 who has a new job, a new name, and an excellent
psychiatrist.

Second Place

Deadly Sacrifices by Bridges
DelPonte. When a soccer mom is
brutally murdered in a suburban Boston church, new homicide prosecutor
Marguerite “Monty” Montez risks her career and her life trying to prove that
police nabbed the wrong man.

The Cold Season by William C. Walker.
A woman's journey of
discovery and redemption.

Science Fiction (Unpublished)

First Place

Stone Perfect by Chris
Coward. With the help of two small
stones, an emotionally battered wife finds the “easy” way to the life—and
love—of her dreams.

Thriller / Suspense (Published)

First Place

Tiger Paw by Charles A. Cornell. FBI agent Scott Forrester must make a deal with the Devil to thwart the
plans of a demonic East Indian cult as it unleashes an elusive assassin to
dismantle a corrupt Wall Street empire, one body at a time.

Second Place

The Hitman’s
Lover by Richard Newell Smith. After his Aunt Maude guns down a policeman, Jack Scully
finds himself up against crooked cops and a crime boss – but nothing as
beguiling and dangerous as Angela D’Annunzio.

Thriller / Suspense (Unpublished)

First Place

Place of Fear by Ken Pelham. Deep in the rainforest, a prisoner languishes in a lightless cell, the
clock ticking toward his execution. His friends mount a desperate rescue, but
will it be too late?

Second Place

Francis’ Flowers by D. L. Havlin. A rural Georgia community braces for the suspected arrival of a serial
killer unaware a more sinister danger already lives among them.

THIRD PLACE

Grind His Bones by Richard Newell Smith.
For Jack Scully, pit bulls and
sociopaths aren’t half as noxious as his cousin Hughie. Now he’s risking his
life to save Hughie from being framed for a double murder.

Juvenile Fiction

Children’s Picture Books (Published)

First Place

The King of Fish by Darrell House. Young Ray dreams of fishing.In
this catch & release story, told in verse, our wheelchair bound hero comes
face to face with the King of Fish; displaying the wisdom and strength found in
the heart of a child.

Children’s Picture Books
(Unpublished)

First Place

Suki Saluki: Horse Farm Hero by M. R. Street. Suki is a Saluki dog
living on a racehorse training farm.Although she has a very important job – taking care of three orphan
kittens – she wants a bigger job.

Second Place

Rectangle Jangle by Gayle Swift. Poetry and geometry pair in an unusual picture book from the “Shape of
Discovery” series. “Rectangles are sturdy, reliable shapes.

THIRD PLACE

Dragonella’s Striped Umbrella at the Playground by Gayle Swift. In the midst of an unexpected playground
storm, Dragonella and Jollyette share a sheltered spot. They trade the
loneliness of one to forge a friendship that blooms like a garden in the sun.

Chapter Book (Published)

First Place

Hildy
by Millie RichmondA
nine-year-old girl is losing her hearing but she doesn’t tell anyone. The
longer she keeps this secret, the more problems she encounters.

The Rules of Lying by Linda Kelley. Dark passages sparked with humor draw the reader into Peter Whistler’s
world where a little luck, a knack for lying, and a dash of Cajun crazy can
steer even an ordinary orphan to an extraordinary life.

Second Place

Shedim: The Secret of Gems by K. M. Smith. Life heats up on Annabel Island for twin
sisters Ruby and Pearl Pryce as they discover a long-hidden relative, powerful
family secrets, and, possibly, their hearts’ desires.

THIRD PLACE

An Angel Torched My Homework and Other Lie by Carol Sipes. Sixteen-year-old
Carrie loves attending the nation’s first high school to admit angels, zombies,
werewolves, and vampires—until a mysterious attack makes her question whether
they’re as harmless as she believes

Screenplay (Unpublished)

First Place

Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad.
Patricia is abducted by mistake. Lost
in space, she must use every ounce of her humanity to find the way home

Short Fiction

Flash Fiction (Published)

First Place

Distorted Reflections by Amber Garr. A young girls’ struggle with self-image is captured in her reflection.

Second Place

100 Needles by Paige L. Scott. The elders of a fishing village fashion their life stories into a
quilt...and lose a little bit of themselves in the process.

THIRD PLACE

A Leap of Faith by Amber Garr. A young girl misjudges the extent of her boyfriend’s commitment to
forever.

Flash Fiction (Unpublished)

First Place

Dial Tone by Gayle Swift. A
divorce hearing derails when the spouse is a “no show.” When his daughter
telephones, his threat of violence is punctuated by the ominous drone of a dial
tone.

Second Place

One Last Time by Jan Evans. A P-38 pilot is saved by a mysterious woman. Or maybe it was only a
dream.

THIRD PLACE

An
Accidental Death by Phyllis Smallman. A P-38 pilot is saved by a mysterious woman. Or maybe it was only a
dream.

Short Story (Published)

First Place

Jesus
or Juju by Roger Poppen.Sometimes, miracles do happen.

Second Place

Jack Daniels
And Tea by Phyllis Smallman.One night in a bar things get out of control for
bartender Sherri Travis and she finds when there's money at stake no one can be
trusted.

THIRD PLACE

T-Patrol by Mary Lois Sanders. If Mel jumps," her brother
Dave says, "it's a tarantula." So true. So why does she join the
Patrol in her neighborhood? To belong? Okay, but mostly to challenge her fear!
But does she really want to poke a tarantula hole with a broom straw?

Short Story (Unpublished)

First Place

A Flutter of Wings by Victor DiGenti. Life seems terribly unfair to a boy of seven after his mother leaves.
But little things —like a simple feather — can lead to understanding and
redemption.

Second Place

A Shadow the
Length of a Lifetime by John J. White. A nine-year-old boy learns a harsh lesson about life while adjusting to
a new home, a new school, and new friends.

THIRD PLACE

Rosabelle, Believe by Mark McWaters. Eric White has been a
"magic man" his entire life; from magic shows he staged as a kid
through his mega productions the world sees today. His ultimate illusion brings
the ultimate magic man, Harry Houdini, back from the grave – or does it?

Novella (Unpublished)

First Place

Restoration by Laura
Pelner McCarthy. Against the backdrop
of the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the rebirth of Miami Beach’s Art Deco District,
a gentle, diffident Midwestern architect and a free-spirited Miami radio host
engage in a correspondence of increasing intimacy and growing self-knowledge.

Second Place

Solitary by Bradette
Michel.Long-time
criminal offender Jack Henderson gets a second chance when he is unexpectedly
released from prison. Ruthie, his six-year old niece, helps him find the
redemption that has always eluded him.

Book-Length Nonfiction

Autobiography / Memoir (Published)

First Place

Life in the Land of IS by Bette Lee Crosby. In this amazing memoir, Lani Deauville, the
world’s longest living quadriplegic proves that the worst handicap you can have
is a lack of belief in yourself.

Second Place

Baseball’s Finest Moments by Jack L. Hayes. He didn’t even remotely know anyone connected
with major league baseball. Yet this fourteen-year-old had a dream and on
Opening Day, 1953, that dream transformed into an almost unbelievable story as
he trotted onto the baseball field wearing the batboy uniform of the
world-champion New York Yankees.

Autobiography / Memoir (Unpublished)

First Place

Hardship Post by Robert J. Taylor. With terrorism on the rise and his marriage on the ropes, an American
moves to Pakistan to work for the Aga Khan.

Educational / Informational (Published)

First Place

You Have to Say the Words by Kathy Ryan. This step-by-step guide for managers and HR
professionals is packed with easy to implement tools, practical advice and
real-world stories to help you provide impactful performance feedback and take
the fear out of tough conversations.

History (Published)

First Place

Ordinary People: Extraordinary Heroes by Will G. Merrill Jr. During the First Battle in the War against
Terror, ordinary New Yorkers became extraordinary heroes.

Short Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction (Unpublished)

First Place

Palladium Nights by Beda Kantarjian. For over thirty years an elderly friend repeatedly requested the author
write her haunting past love story. On reading it, with tears in her eyes, the
friend said, “It’s perfect.”

Second Place

To the Top by Joan Levy. A father takes his family to the
Empire state building to fulfill a promise requested on a postcard. But odd
circumstances and the determination of three year-old child seem to derail the
promise and visit.

THIRD PLACE

Snowball by Joan Levy. A
first grader steals a doll from her classroom dollhouse. Decades later she
discovers why.

Essay (Unpublished)

First Place

Quibbles 'n Bits by Barbara Samuels. This author believes there should be distinct names for people and pets.
Join the movement to stop calling our dogs, Bill and our children, Fifi.

Second Place

Arguing with E.B.B. by Judy
Weber.The writer's nostalgic look back on years past is far
different in perspective than that of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Poetry

Poetry (Unpublished)

First Place

Change by Robin Thomas. Some
call it fear of settling down; some call it wanderlust; some call it exciting.I call it a way of life.

Second Place

Petal Fists by Donna S. Fernandez. The poem is from a collection of poems and essays on the marvels and
mysteries of South Florida’s natural world observed from the poet’s
canal-backed home.

THIRD PLACE

Greedy by Maxie Steer. A
child who, upon overhearing arguments, learns hurtful words and adds them to
his vocabulary but soon realizes his limited understanding and shame in
eavesdropping.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Good news: registration for Saturday author tables is closed! (Aren't you glad you registered early?)

Bad news: registration for Saturday author tables is closed! (They have started a waiting list.)

There are no author spaces available for Saturday. There is still hope, however, they have started a waiting list. Complete the registration form and pay the fee. First come, first served. If no one cancels, they will return your fee in full.

Second chance - Sunday still has five spaces available. If interested, complete form and mail in fee ASAP - these are going fast. First come, first served. If these spaces fill up, they will return you fee in full.

Another opportunity - Display Books Only...If you are unable to attend in person or all spaces are full, you can have your book and materials on display. There are no sales involved, but exposure is gaurenteed.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Art Gallery of
Viera will host a Champagne Book Signing for the newly released book
“Da Vinci-Picasso Dialogue-Two Art Geniuses Clash in The Heavens” on
Sunday, November 18, 2012 from 2-4 pm. This is Mr. Lebrón’s first foray into fiction about the imagined interactions of two of the world’s most renowned artists. His novel is also illustrated with Mr. Lebrón’s own witty and intriguing art work.

Robert
Lebrón is a distinguished artist in his own right, and certainly one of
the finest and most successful artists of our time. He was born in New York City in 1928, delving into the arts at a very young age. He studied at the New York High School of Music and Arts as well as The Arts Student League of New York. He was soon drawing cartoons for a local paper which led him to working with Walt Disney artists.

Mr.
Lebrón developed his own personal style, painting with just a palette
knife, and concentrating on painting street scenes around the western
world. His paintings have been
published in prestigious journals and each painting is full of life and
tells it’s own story in Lebrón’s inimitable way. His most famous body of
work, a series of paintings depicting the tragic trials of the Donner
party is on display at the emigrant museum in Trucklee, California.

The public is invited to the Champagne Book Signing at The Art Gallery of Viera. Also featured and available for purchase will be Robert F. Lebrón’s original paintings and prints. For more information see www.artgalleryofviera.com

Friday, October 19, 2012

ORLANDO, FL – Author and lecturer Patricia Charpentier won a silver award in the category of self-help/instruction for her book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time. This is the third award the book has won since its publication.Eating an Elephant was a first place winner in both the Royal Palm Literary Awards and Global E-book Awards.

Submit to Florida Book News

About Me

Lou Belcher enjoys drawing, painting and writing and loves developing paintings in mixed media that will bring a smile to your face. She has a passion for whimsy. In addition to painting and writing, Most recently she has begun to spend time writing and studying health issues.